12 Awesome Things to Do in Tulum, Mexico

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With its silky sand beaches, boho-chic shops, jungly Mayan ruins, and crystal clear cenotes, there is no shortage of activities and things to do in Tulum!

Whether you’re here on vacation, for a bachelorette party, or in Tulum as a digital nomad, you will be spoilt for choice when it comes to great food and outdoor adventures.

Tulum is one of those places that just beckon you to visit (at least once!) which is what made it quickly rise as one of the most sought-after places to visit in Mexico.

After visiting Tulum in 2018 and living for two years in the Riviera Nayarit on Mexico’s west coast, we decided to see what life was like in Tulum on our next Mexico move.

We ended up living in Tulum for nearly three months and have discovered it in a new light. There’s a lot to love about it.

But living here, you definitely get to see its underbelly.

Tulum’s infrastructure and fragile ecosystem are worsening by the minute, with troves of tourists arriving nearly every day.

Many efforts are being made to make Tulum a sustainable destination, but there’s a lot of work to do.

🌿 When you visit Tulum, please be conscientious about your impact on the local environment and the community. Stay in eco-responsible hotels like Habitas, Ahau, and Papaya Playa Project and not those known to dump their waste into the mangroves. Make wise buying choices, considering that your “purchasing power” goes a long way.

Here’s my ever-growing bucket list for what to do and see in Tulum, Mexico!

12 Best & Unique Things to Do in Tulum

Practical Tips & Resources for Tulum:

🚗 Rent a car from Cancun to Tulum on Discovercars.com

🏠 Stay at one of these eco-boutique hotels in Tulum 

🎒 Pack water, a cute day backpack, and wear comfy walking shoes (psst… they’re sustainable!)

📸 Bring your SonyA7iii and all-around 24-70mm travel lens for epic shots!

🛡 Insure your Tulum adventures with SafetyWing, the global travel medical insurance for digital nomads ($56/4 weeks)

🖼 Book with GetYourGuide for fun activities in Quintana Roo and beyond

1. Visit the Coastal & Ancient Tulum Ruins

• Tulum Ruins entrance fee: ~$95 pesos

The famous Tulum ruins are one of the coolest—if not most beautiful—ancient Mayan cities in Mexico, thanks to their unique position overlooking the vast and vivid Caribbean Sea.

Visiting these ruins is a must-do activity in Tulum!

The best time to visit the Tulum ruins is early morning, long before the hoards of tour buses and hipsters on bikes arrive.

Going later in the day is an option, too, but it’ll likely be doubly as busy and much hotter.

The Tulum Ruins site is vast and expansive, so it’ll take up a good portion of the morning and leave you hungry for lunch.

While at Tulum Ruins, enjoy the palm trees, warm breeze, interesting plaques describing the ruins, and the iguanas basking in the sunshine.

There is also the Tulum Ruins beach, where you can swim—just head down the stairs.

It is crazy to think that the Mayas could see Spanish fleets floating in the distance from their city on the edge of the Caribbean!

While you can visit the ruins on your own, I recommend doing a 1.5-hour guided walking tour.

There is little signage around the Tulum Ruins site, so your visit will be much more enjoyable with a guide.

If you are short on time and wish to visit the Tulum and Coba Ruins together in one day, check out the full-day tour below.

2. Rent a Bike & Cruise Tulum’s Town & Beach Zone

• Cost to rent a bike in Tulum: $200 pesos per day

Renting a bike in Tulum is one of the most budget-friendly things to do, but it is also one of the best ways to explore downtown Tulum and the Hotel Zone (you can also bike to the Tulum Ruins).

Tulum can be a nightmare with hoards of tourists arriving in rental cars and tour buses, so biking is a good alternative.

Tulum isn’t built to handle the demand tourists bring every year. Hence, it gets very busy and crowded (especially in the high season, over the Christmas holidays).

Not only does renting a bike help you beat the crowds, but it’s also fun and gives you the flexibility to stop wherever you like to shop or explore.

Biking to Tulum’s Hotel Zone

• Distance from Tulum town: 5-6 km (3-4 mi) to reach the start of the Zona Hotelera

While Tulum is pedestrian-friendly, especially in town, walking everywhere will not get you very far.

Biking in Tulum Pueblo is easy with the town’s bike path. You’ll have to be careful because many tourists don’t realize they’re walking in the bike lane.

If you are up to the task, you can bike from Tulum Town to the Hotel Zone along the beach.

There is a bike-friendly lane that goes down Coba Road toward the beach. Also, watch out for people, potholes, and cars entering/exiting onto the side streets. 🚴

It takes about 20 minutes by bike to reach the start of the Hotel Zone from town.

If you want to bike down the Hotel Zone (along the beach strip), eventually reaching the more popular “Instagram spots,” it will take about 35-45 minutes. It is pretty far.

In one day, we biked 18 km (11 miles or so) there and back.

Even though the Hotel Zone is far away from town by bike, it’s still one of the best things to do in Tulum if you want to be outside.

It’s also way more freeing to meander the Hotel Zone by bike than by car, as you can hop on/off without having to park correctly (which is limited and expensive).

Parking for cars is legit a nightmare in the hotel zone. So, if you can do a bit of biking and save yourself time (and trouble), then bike there instead!

Just be prepared to be tired at the end of the day!

Tip: You can also bike to cenotes! This Cenote Trail: Caves Visit and Bike Tour 🚴 will guide you to secluded cenotes away from the Tulum crowds.

3. Jump in Cenotes (One of the Best Things to Do in Tulum!)

Tulum’s cenotes are what drew me to visit and road trip the Yucatan Peninsula in the first place.

Cenotes are just incredible! I even wrote about my top 5 favorite cenotes; one of the cenotes completely enclosed in Tulum was on the list.

Tulum and cenotes are inseparable.

And they’ve made quite a splash over the years, largely thanks to Instagram.

Tulum has a treasure trove of cenotes.

The town is built on top of cenotes and one of the largest flooded cavern systems—Dos Ojos—known better for being one of the most visited cenotes in Tulum.

However, the sheer amount of tourists visiting Tulum means that the cenotes here get overcrowded quickly.

If you plan to visit a cenote, there are a few things you should know:

• ❌ It’s forbidden to wear sunscreen (even biodegradable), lotions, makeup, etc., in the cenotes.
• 🚿 Most cenotes require you to rinse off before entering (and it’s cold).
• 💰 Depending on where you go, there may be a $150-200 peso camera fee charge (for DSLRs, drones, GoPros). Taking pictures with your phone is free.
• ☀️ The best time to go is when it opens (especially for photographers). If you don’t care, you can go later in the morning or 1-2 hours before it closes.
• ⏰ Many cenotes close between 4-6 PM, so plan your day accordingly.

Cenotes to discover in Tulum

• Gran Cenote: The most popular cenote in Tulum.
• Dos Ojos: Largest cave system; great for snorkeling/diving.
• Carwash: Open-air, circular cenote.
• Cenote Azul: Beautiful open-air cenote with a ledge for jumping.
• Cenotes Choo-Ha & Multun-Ha: Underground cave cenotes near the Coba ruins outside of Tulum.
• Cenote Calavera: One big jumping hole with a ladder and swing and two daring small jumping holes (hence the name “Skull Cenote”).
• Cenote Zacil-Ha: Shallow and turquoise open-air cenote with rest areas.
• Cenotes Cristal y Escondido: Two open-air cenotes great for jumping, snorkeling, and cavern diving (Escondido).
• Read more cenotes in and around Tulum here

Every Tulum cenote will have a varying entrance fee, but prices range from $150–$350 pesos. Sometimes it’s more (which is kinda crazy).

I love a good local cenote that costs only $50 and isn’t littered with people. But those are becoming harder to find around the Tulum area.

You’ll have to travel inland or throughout the Peninsula to discover some of the more local cenote gems (like those outside Mérida or Valladolid).

👉 This cenote bike tour by Mexico Kan Tours will take you to Gran Cenote as soon as it opens and then on a guided forested path to some of my favorite cenotes, Cenote Cristal y Escondido.

CENOTE REMINDER: Do not use sunscreen, insect repellant, beauty creams, etc., when entering cenotes. All the products we smother on ourselves are ruining the fresh water from the ground, leaving residue on top of the cenote water, which pollutes the water and produces algae blooms. Please also pack out all of the trash that you pack in.

4. Stroll, Shop, & Eat in Tulum Pueblo

When you first arrive in Tulum, you’ll find yourself in Tulum’s pueblo or town area.

The town center is not in the same area as the Zona Hotelera, which can be confusing on your first visit. But don’t discount the Tulum Pueblo just yet!

It has lots to offer in terms of delicious dining experiences—both international and local.

Here are my top 20 recommendations for where to eat in Tulum. 🍴

Not only that, but Tulum Town is also a better budget-friendly area to shop and dine in than the flashy Zona Hotelera. (Although, nothing in Tulum is extremely cheap compared to other parts of Mexico!).

There are plenty of spots in Tulum Town that retain their local vibes—despite its enormous growth in recent years.

On that note, I prefer Tulum’s local scene in the pueblo MUCH more than the NYC fashion-designer boho vibes along the coast. That’s why strolling around and getting a feel for the town is, in my opinion, one of the best things to do in Tulum.

If you’re in town, explore Main Ave and Calle Centauro Sur, as well as the parallel and perpendicular streets. There are many hidden restaurants, shops, and vegan cafes to discover.

Also Read: What’s the Cost of Living in Tulum, Mexico?

5. Lounge on Tulum’s Public (or Private) Beaches

If you tire from swimming in cenotes or exploring Mayan ruins, the beautiful Caribbean shoreline is but a few minutes away.

Scores of smaller, less popular beaches can be found along the Riviera Maya—with some just a skip and a jump away from Tulum’s more popular beach scenes.

In the Zona Hotelera alone, pockets of the beach are accessible to the public, while most belong to the resorts. Nonetheless, we could park and walk along a portion of the beach where there were fewer people than at other beaches nearby.

Going to the beach is one of the best free things to do in Tulum (unless you pay for beach access at a beach club!).

Tulum Beaches & Clubs

Playa Paraiso, Playa Pescadores, Playa Santa Fe:

Public free beaches halfway up the road on the way to Tulum Ruins (opposite direction of the Hotel Zone). Paradise Beach, or Playa Paraiso (appropriately named), offers the iconic lounge and relaxation imagery you would imagine from taking a beach vacation in Mexico.

Beach Clubs:

The resorts privatize the beaches along the hotel zone.

However, you can access their beach club for a fee (usually between $50 USD pp but up to $100 for some). The best beach clubs I can recommend are Ahau, Habitas, and Papaya Playa Project.

Public beaches in the Hotel Zone: 

The first “stretch of the Hotel Zone” has a dozen shops and restaurants. Just beyond this, though, is a section of public beach. This area is often empty during the day and later semi-crowded with locals and their families or fisherman casting their lines out.

It has a short shoreline and isn’t the best spot because the road is nearby. But if you walk out, there’s a rocky area that is pretty neat to take photos of while getting a good view of the coastline.

Many people don’t know, but there are whispers that Azulik’s beach is nude. We often go to the mini public beach just after Azulik, which is hidden from view. It is just across Tunich.

6. Float Down Mayan Canals in Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve

• Cost to take boat tour: $1,000 pesos per person
• Cost to enter Muyil ruins: ~$75 pesos

One of the coolest things to do in Tulum is to float down on an old Mayan trading route in a lagoon in the Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve.

The Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve offers a unique experience in Tulum: You float down an old Maya trade route in your life jacket, strapped on like a diaper—literally!

When you first enter Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve at Muyil (20 minutes south of Tulum), you’ll hike through the mosquito-infested jungle to ancient Mayan ruins.

But keep going over a boardwalk to a scenic viewing tower (that you can climb if you’re not scared of heights, or even if you are). Once beyond that, you’ll reach the shore of the lagoon. Pay the boat guide the tour fee per person, which will cost around 1,000 pesos.

You’ll soon be whisked away in a little motorized canoe boat across crystal clear water. You’ll stop alongside some mangroves and be told to jump out in the water with your life jacket strapped on like shorts.

For 45 minutes, you’ll float down the Muyil canals or “lazy river” created by natural currents. Remember not to wear sunscreen again – so plan to wear a shirt and a hat if you burn easily.

If you want peace away from the crowds, go early to Sian Ka’an while everyone else is busy visiting the ruins back in town.

If you’re uncomfortable going alone, book a half-day tour of Muyil and Sian Ka’an here.

7. Marvel at Laguna Kaan Luum

• Cost to enter Kaan Luum: ~$300 pesos

Laguna Kaan Luum is one of the things on my bucket list for Tulum that I haven’t checked off yet.

But despite this, the lagoon constantly gets raved about for its gorgeous colors.

The lagoon has a deep 82 m (260 ft) cenote at its center. When you zoom out, it looks like an eye. You can swim in the lagoon around this hole, which is closed off by ropes. There is also a pier, some swings, and several rest areas.

How to get there: You can get to Laguna Kaan Luum by public transport (colectivo/minivan) from Carrillo Puerto in Tulum.

The colectivo should cost around $85-120 pesos. If you have a rental car, you can also drive there and enter the location in your GPS.

Word on the street is that you can take a detoxifying clay mud bath if you decide to jump in! I believe they also accept drones for a fee.

8. Sip a Mezcal or Margarita in Downtown

• Cost for drinks in Tulum at night: around ~$100-$150 pesos

As I mentioned earlier, Tulum Town can be quite a hip place. Take advantage of its lively night scene to enjoy a margarita or mezcal cocktail.

Mezcal is one of Mexico’s famous spirits. It is similar to tequila (but, in my opinion, better!).

There are many bars/restaurants where you can get drinks. Batey’s is one of Tulum’s most famous places to go for drinks, but it’s often too crowded for my taste.

I loved the margaritas and Aperol spritzes from Bonita, which also has some seriously delicious sandwiches (including burgers) and fries!

Yaax Ik is also an excellent, open-air spot that serves great mezcal cocktails and margaritas. 

9. Experience the Mayan Jungle at Coba Ruins

• Coba ruins entrance fee: ~$100 pesos

Everyone who visits Coba Ruins raves about how it’s one of the best things to do near Tulum.

And I’d have to agree, simply because it offers a different but exciting perspective of Mayan ruins compared to those along the Tulum coast.

Unfortunately, Coba Ruins is no longer climbable (similar to Chichen Itza in the past), but it’s still impressive to stand in their shadow and admire these ancient stone structures!

Getting to Coba from Tulum is fairly straightforward: just take the Coba road north out of Tulum, and after 45 minutes, you’ll be there.

I recommend you visit the nearby Coba cenotes while you’re there. These underground cave cenotes offer a different perspective than many of the open-air ones closer to Tulum.

Tip: Rent a bike at the entrance of Coba to see the Coba ruins faster. Otherwise, it can be a far walk! Bike rentals cost around $75 per person.

10. Scuba Dive a Cenote

Did you know you can go scuba diving in Tulum’s cenotes?

Explore the cenote’s underwater microcosms and labyrinthine cave systems from a whole new perspective – alongside your scuba guide!

Some of the best cenotes for scuba diving excursions are:

• Casa Cenote
• Carwash Cenote
• El Pit
• Cenote Escondido
• Dos Ojos
• Gran Cenote

And that’s just scratching the surface of cenote dives near Tulum.

You’ll have multiple options, like doing a refresher course and advanced cave diving. Most dives will include two cenotes!

The cost to scuba dive in one of Tulum’s cenotes varies depending on which cenote you choose and which dive company you choose. You can expect to pay between $2200 and $3700 pesos per dive. 

Remember that some companies will include entrance fees in the price, and some won’t. Some even include lunch or snacks!

Agua Clara Diving is one of Tulum’s most highly rated dive centers, with many options.

Other highly recommended dive shops include Infinity2Diving, Koox Diving, and La Calypso Dive Center. For a more tailored and intimate experience, you can also book with a private instructor! 

Check out my dedicated guide for an even more in-depth look at Tulum’s diving options!

11. Explore Azulik Uh May

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• Azulik Uh May entrance fee: ~$200 pesos

Uh May literally translates to City of Arts, and in a way, that’s what Azulik Uh May is!

Located about a 40-minute drive outside Tulum, in the tiny town of Francisco Uh May, Azulik Uh May is an art center combining modern architecture with nature. 

Surrounded by dense jungle, visitors can explore the unique art installations that seem to meld with their natural surroundings. 

Walk through concrete rooms that seem to swirl and melt before your eyes and over woven bridges and tunnels that look like something out of Star Wars!

The forest sprouts through some rooms and buildings with huge, established trees and hanging vines. 

In addition to the City of Art itself, there is also the SFER IK Museion modern art museum. 

For a more intimate experience, you’ll be asked to remove your shoes and socks at the door, but do keep in mind that there is a dress code (no bathing suits, wet clothes, exposed chest).

Taking pictures at SFER IK Museion with your phone camera is free, but there is a $2,000 peso fee for taking photos with a GoPro or traditional camera.

Visitors can also book a fine dining experience at Jungle Cuisine, a restaurant and bar that focuses on holistic and medicinal ingredients. It’s open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner!

If you’re looking to escape Tulum’s crowds – this might be just the place, as many people said they were the only ones there or very few other visitors!

Overall, this unique experience celebrates the harmony of nature and art.

12. Participate in a Traditional Temazcal Ceremony

I wanted to experience a temazcal ceremony during my time in Mexico, and I’m happy to say that I did! 

At a glance, a traditional temazcal ceremony, also known as a sweat lodge, is an ancient Mesoamerican ritual that is said to cleanse your mind, body, and soul. 

You’ll enter a sweat lodge traditionally made from stone or mud with heated volcanic rocks in its center. Most sweat lodges reach well above 100° F! 

Often, medicinal herbs are placed on the fire, and music and chanting might be incorporated.  

There are four “doors” throughout the ceremony where you can come outside for some fresh air and realign your intentions in each of the four cardinal directions (north, south, east, west). 

Every direction has a different meaning and a different focal point which you can read more about in my guide on trying out a temazcal ceremony in Mexico!

Each ceremony varies in both the traditions and the heat level you’ll experience. 

This experience might not be for everyone, and you need to find the right people to do it with, but it’s a once-in-a-lifetime chance to (potentially) rejuvenate both your mind and spirit. 

My quick tips for first-timers include hydrating well the day before and the day of your ceremony, getting there early, bringing fruit to share, and an extra change of clothes! Trust me – you’re going to sweat!

If you find yourself craving a similar experience but perhaps without the intensity, you can also participate in a Tulum cacao ceremony. 

Even More Tulum Outdoor Activities & Tours

• Go on a Catamaran Tour
• Take a fun day trip from Tulum
• Head south and visit the magic town of Bacalar
• Find more tours and activities below:

Last Tips for Traveling in Tulum, Mexico

Travel Responsibly: Tulum has exploded in popularity, and it’s clearly harming the local community and environment.

• Please stay in responsible hotels in Tulum
• Respect the local culture
• Dispose of your trash properly
• Please reduce your plastic waste as well!

Say No to Raves & Drugs: So-called Tuluminatis are changing the very cultural thread of Tulum. Also, many tourists are buying drugs and thus are encouraging youth to sell drugs on the streets. Please don’t come to Tulum to get high or attend illegal jungle parties, as this is enabling a new wave of tourism that is disastrous for the community’s future.

Support Local: When you can, please consider buying and shopping from local markets, families, businesses, and shops! Many local families are struggling to make ends meet.

Finally, glean through my top ten tips for Tulum for what to know before you go!

Tulum has many amazing things to do that involve the outdoors and wellness. I love learning about the Indigenous Maya culture, exploring the ruins, and diving into magical cenotes around Tulum! 🌿 🧘‍♀️ ✨

Feel free to drop your questions about Tulum in the comments below!

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